After several years of navigating legal issues without in-house counsel — including high-profile controversies — Akron Public Schools has hired a staff attorney.
David Sipusic, who most recently worked at Peters, Kalail & Markakis Co., will join APS as in-house counsel.
Sipusic, a product of Youngstown State University, has served in various legal, regulatory and policy roles with Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the University of Dayton, John Carroll University and his alma mater. He also worked as a partner with Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder Co.
At Akron schools, he’ll make approximately $183,000 annually.
“He brings over 20 years of legal and leadership experience, working with K-12 districts, universities and public entities,” APS Labor Relations Manager Tod Wammes said during brief remarks at Monday’s school board meeting.
The district has relied on outside legal services for years, racking up hefty bills in the process. Notably, the district tapped two outside firms to help navigate the investigation and eventual ousting this spring of former Superintendent Michael Robinson.
Outgoing treasurer’s temporary replacement tapped
In other employment news, Wayne Bowers, an assistant treasurer under outgoing Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Steve Thompson, has been named the interim treasurer for the district. Bowers will step into the role on Aug. 1 — one day after Thompson’s resignation goes into effect. The school board on Monday night accepted Thompson’s resignation.
How much could Akron schools save by hiring in-house counsel?
A complete breakdown of the Akron schools’ expenditures on outside legal services is difficult to piece together, but records show that in fiscal year 2024 the district spent upwards of $1.2 million.
The lion’s share of those dollars went to Roetzel & Andress, one of Akron’s largest law firms. Last year, Akron schools paid the firm more than $575,000. Previous reporting by Signal Akron discovered the district spent more than $769,000 in 2017 and $585,000 in 2018 before hiring in-house counsel in 2019.
In 2021, APS returned to its reliance on outside counsel, spending more than $617,000 that year.
